Explore Luxembourg's quirky museums

We all know the regular museum haunts but the Grand Duchy has lots more to offer, often only a stone's throw from the capital. Here's a selection of quirky museums you may not have heard of.

10.08.2015

We all know the regular museum haunts but the Grand Duchy has lots more to offer, often only a stone's throw from the capital. Here's a selection of quirky museums you may not have heard of.

Ardennes draught horse and tourist center, Munshausen

The perfect museum for kids who like to get involved when they visit somewhere. Visitors can learn about the history of farming and rural crafts by taking donkey rides, feeding sheep, baking bread or even beekeeping.

A handful of workshops are offered lasting up to 45 minutes. Entry is free for people who simply want to explore. An on-site café serves meals and snacks.

National Brewing Museum, Wiltz

Beer enthusiasts should enjoy this petite museum dedicated to the history of beer and the brewing process.

The museum explores the tipple's past from its discovery in Ancient Egypt 6,000 years ago right up to present day beers. Seminars on micro-brewing are offered on Saturdays by local brewery Simon in French only.

There is also a room dedicated to the town's tanning history, which was once a major industry in the area employing up to 1,200 people.

Open August to June, Monday to Friday 9am to 12 noon, 2pm to 5pm and Saturday's 10am to 12 noon. Open daily from July to August from 10am to 6pm. Musée National d'Art Brassicole, Château de Wiltz, Tel 95 74 44
www.tourisme.wiltz.lu or for seminars www.brasseriesimon.lu

Playing cards museum, Grevenmacher

The Jeu Dieudonné playing cards museum in the east of Luxembourg offers a curious collection of cards and shows how they were made. The museum sheds light on the history of Jean Dieudonné, who founded a playing cards dynasty in Grevenmacher in 1754. Successors continued in his footsteps right up to 1880.

The card designs offer a fascinating insight into historical changes, for example following the French revolution and the annexation of Luxembourg, it was forbidden to reproduce images of crowned heads on playing cards. There is also a craft corner for the kids, where they can print their own card designs and a shop to purchase some unusual playing cards.

The museum is open daily except Mondays from 2pm to 6pm and visits are offered from 2.30pm to 4pm. Entry to the museum is free.
Kulturhuef, 54, rte de Trèves, L-6793 Grevenmacher, Tel 267 464 1 www.kulturhuef.lu

Weaving museum, Esch-sur-Sûre

Located in an old textile mill, The Musée de la Draperie contains some impressive old wool-spinning equipment and looms which still work today. While they are no longer used for commercial purposes, a demonstration can be given upon request. They have, however, been given a modern twist.

Whereas the equipment was once powered by the movement of the river Sûre, today, solar panels on the roof provide the electricity to make them work. Why not pay a visit to one of the many beaches around the Lac de la Haute Sûre, while you're there for a spot of wild swimming.

Museum open April to November: daily except Wednesdays 10 am to 12 noon and 2pm to 6 pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 2 pm to 6 pm.

From November to April the museum is open daily except Wednesdays 10 am to 12 noon, 2pm to 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 2pm to 5pm. Musée de la Draperie, 15 route de Lultzhausen, Esch-sur-Sûre. www.naturpark-sure.lu

Prehistory at The Hihof museum, Echternach

Get a glimpse of life over 10,000 years ago in this museum which shows how prehistoric tools were made and used. Located in a former poor house, the museum houses a large collection of artefacts made from flint, stone and bone as well as arrowheads. The majority of the items date from the Mesolithic Period (9500 to 5500 BC) with some African pieces thought to be around a million years old.

Banking museum, Luxembourg City

For a country which has built much of its wealth on the banking industry is seems fitting that it should have a museum dedicated to the sector. This museum located in Luxembourg's national savings bank offers much more than a mere history tour, with a section dedicated to bank robberies, a mock stock exchange which visitors can play and short history of the Luxembourg franc.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm. Entry is free.
Musée de la Banque, 1 place de Metz, 40 15 24 50
www.bcee.lu